Left on way to go together in UP polls

New Delhi, Nov 17 (UNI) The Communist parties are likely to go together in the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

The CPI(M) Central leadership has already conveyed its decision to its state unit which is yet to be made official.

The Left parties are to meet here at CPI headquarters- the Ajoy Bhawan- on November 20, Monday, and are likely to take a formal position on UP polls besides discussing the mid-term appraisal of the UPA government.

The four Left parties including the RSP and Forward Bloc had decided two months back to contest the assembly polls together in Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur. They had decided to ask their state units in UP to send their reports to the party central headquarters.

"It is significant that the CPI(M) has reportedly deserted the SP," CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan told UNI amid reports that the CPI(M) may not have a pact with SP for the UP elections.

It is to be noted here that the CPI(M) considers Mr Yadav as the "biggest champion of secularism in UP," but its state unit is reportedly against joining hands with SP.

However, CPI(M) senior leader and party Polit bureau member M K Pandhe said," the final decision will be taken by our state unit." CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said here on Wednesday that the party Polit bureau had sent its viewpoint to the state unit but refused to divulge details.

On Mr Yadav's suggestion for timely polls in February next year, Mr Bardhan said the SP chief was trying to reinforce confidence among his rank and file that had been badly shaken due to the drubbing it received in the recent civic body polls in the state.

"All talk of early polls is part of the same confidence building measures," Mr Bardhan said adding that the local body polls have shown an urge for change though no clear victor is there.

CPI national Secretary Shamim Faizi said various political combinations are trying to hog the limelight even as the BJP has gained in urban areas but in the countryside the saffron party remained a non-starter.

Stating that the Jan Morcha patronised by former Prime Minister V P Singh, had gained some footage among the peasantry, the CPI leaders said their party and the CPI(M-L) are with this combination.

They said the CPI(M)'s reported decision to desert the SP would go a long way for the Communist parties going together in the Hindi heartland.

On the SP chief's demand for polls in February, Forward Bloc national Secretary G Devrajan said," of course, the polls should held in time. It is the general political philosophy.There should be no lame excuse in this regard." On the Left unity, Mr Devrajan stressed that there should be no attempt to divide secular and progressive votes in UP." We appeal to all Left parties to build an alternative people's platform to combat the communal and fascist forces." UNI KSA RP DS1408